LA is Not My Home

Realizing LA is no longer my home happened in a funny way. I was making one my trips to grab my stuff, and my sister was nice enough to join. She asked me over the week, if she should make a hotel reservation. I said, "No it's OK. Let's just wing it.We'll find something when we get there." Never again! There were a lot of big events going on and so there were zero hotel rooms available. Zero! We even tried calling one in Korea town. Man answered said something in Korean and hung up. But then I had my friend call them back and use her magical Korean skills to ask again. And they said, they had 1 hotel room, and that I had to get there by the end of the hour or he was giving it away. We ditched dinner early and ran off. Got there in time.

Realizing I no longer had a place to stay when I visit LA was strange. Like,  " Yes. You no longer have a place to sleep here. You need to find lodging." Wow. Weird.

Sooo this time I made a reservation at The Line Hotel, where Roy Choi is in charge of F & B. 

This hotel is once again in the heart of Koreatown. Conde Nast just named it top 3 hotels to stay in LA a few days before my stay. So I was super excited. What I was even more excited about was that my hotel was dog friendly and that my dog, who is being taken care of by a friend of my ex's, could spend the night with me. I'm so sad that I don't have her right now. Giving her up was an adult decision I had to make. Seeing that she is in a loving home was comforting. Although I am still very very sad. And I hate using the word "very" so that means I am sad.

Bella had just as fun exploring the room. I was surprised to see she was actually interested in staring out the window. Wow. She likes the view from up high, even going on the highest vantage point she could reach. Naked concrete walls, asymmetrical light fixtures, art objects I could purchase. A lot of cute details that made the hotel fun. Plus there was good service throughout.

We started the day at Intelligentsia. I think I actually lost the taste for it. My taste buds have adjusted to the coffee I have up here. Crazy. Met up with my sister and we went to Sqirl for some good eats. We sat next to a celebrity. Duh. 

Dinner was at Pot, which is the hotel's flagship restaurant. It's supposed to be classical Korean food. "The food your grandma makes." I thought it would be super classic, but of course it's Roy Choi's place so it had to be a bit hip. The flavors were strong and were a "punch to your face", rather than light, which is what I think of when I have most Korean soups. I liked that he chose soup to introduce to the world instead of BBQ, which is what everyone knows about already. The ambiance. A snapshot if this place does not show the energy of this place. A photo would make this place seem like any thee spot in Ktown. Hip hop music blaring. Chatty waiters. What I thought were cute napkins ended up being cute flowery aprons to wear while dining. What I thought were mere smears on the walls ended up being handmade floral paper. All utenstils and serving ware was stored at a second level under the table. Tabletop stoves. Newspaper menu. When the server brought our barley water he called it "Pot water." Hah why? Just makes me think of Bong water. Anyway I love Barley water. Try it even if it they made it sounds like bong water.

Pot, reffered to shared pots of soup, and there were several to chose from. I ended up with the vegetarian one, that had kobocha squash (ok yeah, that sold me), tofu, and other vegetables. Soy base was strong. I liked the green vegetables in it. Not sure what that was but it looked like carrot leaves and tasted like sesame leaves. Got their kimchee fried rice, which was served on a hot stone, and 2 raw eggs, and potato pancakes. 

Then off I went to see Carla Bruni. Do you know her? Watching her was very self-indulging, such is, listening to her music. She's a singer, an actress, an artist, a filmmaker, model. Charming. Cute.Sexy. Was married to the ex-priminister of France. She's really Italian who took on to the French. Her songs are perfect for falling in love and falling out of love. She kept her voice soft and sultry the whole time even while talking between voices. The show was at the Luckman Arts Theatre at CSULA, and while it would have been like a $10 concert if I was a student there or a $15 concert ticket if I was still a student, I am no longer a student. Another funny realization. So my ticket was much more than that. I did not see a single student in there.  It was nice that I took my cousin who I took French with, went to France with, and who is into the arts. Plus I have not spent much time with her, so this was perfect bonding time, and I got to her show her my L.A. which she seemed to love.

When we walked back to our hotel room,  the lobby bar was crowded! Holly wanted a drink and I wanted to see who was down there. I gave my cousin a "not allowed to sit" rule and it seem to work. I think sitting down really affects your mood while you are out. Try it out. Do not sit. You will have lots more fun. It was funny using it as an excuse to not sit with dudes. "We aren't sitting down!" My cousin doesn't realize she makes the perfect faces to chase the boys  we don't to talk to away. Drinks were good! Did I ever tell you how I order drinks. I don't know drink names, I just make up something in my head that I want at the moment. So my drink of the night was, "Whiskey based, with lemon and floral bitters." He made it and I  loved that it came with brandy cherries.

Next day, we ended it with a trip to Urth. I needed a dog friendly place and Urth always has the cutest dogs on its patio so this is where we ended up. Urth has a lot of  great looking pastries, good coffee and teas, and even boba. Plus the building in in an old Art Deco building, so I love it. Check out the tiles.

Walking distance from Urth there was the Art districts flea market. Where we found these glasses by Kahoy. Kahoy is wood in Tagalog, the Filipino language. 

And then we made a detour on our way up to the Brewery Lofts Art Walk. About the Brewery Lofts. It was first, an old Edison power plant, and then it turned into a PBR brewery (how hipster), and then now it is an artist commune where only artist allowed to turn it into live/work spaces. Super cool! Plus the building with the haystack is the one from Who Framed Roger Rabbit. This only happens 2x a year. So if you could go, Go!

There this beauty product brand there that had the yummiest scrubs and they had this deal where I could fill a bag up with a much soap for $10. I went crazy and so did everyone else who joined in. I can't wait to try the scrub. And now I have like a 2 year supply of soap. I love handmade soap. It's all I use. I even got a Patchouli scented one, and now I think that makes it official that I moved to the Bay Area, if I have Patchouli soap.

When will my next LA trip be?! I didn't get to see all my old friends, but at least I saw some. :) Need to plan next one soon.... come with. ;)

Temescal Farmers Market

It's on Sundays from I believe from 9:00 AM- 1:00PM at the DMV in Temascal, Oakland. It's literally right next to me, which has always been a dream of mine to be able to walk to farmers market. I've been pretty good about going almost every week. Over the few months I've been going, I've gotten to try most the different stalls. There's a lot of produce, food stalls, and other novelties. There is usually someone playing music live music too. Be blue grass or reggae.

Here are mentions of some of my fave stalls:

I love all of Felicia Skincare's products from her beautiful handmade artisan soaps wrapped in Italian Paper, scents include Spice Orange, Lavender, and Lemon Poppy to her sugar scrubs and shea butters. I love her Eucalyptus sugar scrub. It is very therapeutic and soothing. She has other items too such as lip balm products and Salt Soaks. She usually has samples too.

Flowers: there are 2 flower stalls. I usually end up at the one that sells a ton of Peonies. (hehe you can see my boots next to it which I also love bc its designed by a San Francisco based company) I need to amp up my vase collection!

Eggs: I usually don't take to eggs very well. But for some reason I am fine with these farm raised eggs. Plus he sells chicken eggs that have a shade of blue. Blue from chicken diet. So pretty.

Blue Bottle: Their cart comes over! Nothing is better than waking up on a Sunday and remember that there is coffee right outside my place! And it's Blue bottle! It's like Hallelujah!

Other yummy stuffs:

Sheep creme fraiche.

Bocolone Salami

Cholita Linda Fish Tacos

Living Apothecary (see past post)

There's someone who sells soup. I usually come home with a cup! Lentil and carrot soup is what they have been having recently.

Citrus dude: All sorts of citrus and many of their own varietals. And lotsa samples!

Phoenix Pasta (see past post)

Feel Good Bakery: but dammit they don't bring their macarons! which are like the softest macarons ever. I should ask them to.

And...many more!

Lotsa parking at the DMV.

Oh and I forgot to mention. I think my favorite part of going to the farmers is showing up in my big hat and tote bag (a gift from my bro in law from london), sun dress, and my sandal clogs. I love walking in my clogs. It's like clunk clunk clunk "Here I am!" And don't mind the pic on my bed. I was trying to demonstrate that I am wearing an Ikat printed dress on Ikat printed sheets.

Happiness is. . . getting lost in nature.

Coworker invited me hiking and rule #1 is. . .never turn down an invitation. I actually don't think that is true. You are allowed to turn down invitations and sometimes it can be liberating. But anyway, I love hiking. I probably only get to do about 2 good hikes every year though. I had yet to do one up here since my move to the Bay Area. I knew it would be a good experience because well the Bay Area looks so much different from SoCal. The first Hike I did was in Fairfax which is in/near Marin. I think we were literally lost at some points, not knowing which trail to take. At one point we ended back at another trail head and just turned around. Either way, all trails were nice. I am not sure what part of trail we missed but I am sure there is a lot more. My coworker warned me that there was a 2.5 mile loop  and a 7 mile loop. Thinking about 7 miles gave me anxiety because I knew that meant we would be hiking all day. I think we averaged about a mile an hr. There were some steep parts so no fair laughing at how fast we were moving My heart has not raced that fast in a long time and I want to do the hike again to get my heart to do that again. I know it needs it. I am kinda a slow hiker. So my pals had to keep waiting for me every few hundred feet. I'm glad I did the 7 mile hike, because I've never seen scenery change so much. Dense forests, wildflower fields, lakes, waterfalls, countless foot bridges, views of the Bay. This hike had it all. The good news is if you want to take kids or dogs doing the 2.5 mile loop would be ideal, it is around the most scenic areas, and that trail is easiest to follow, plus there is a picnic area!

Coffee . .I'm addicted

I'm in denial sometimes that I am addicted to coffee but I am. Plus I've become really particular about the type of coffee I have. I look for a particular taste in my coffee. I like it when my coffee almost taste like liquor. Coffee has its own natural liquor in it and I like it when I could taste it. I hope I am not making that up. If anyone knows better. Please tell me. For some reason I like my coffee cold, and I think it may be because I find it is less likely the quality will get messed up by some barista. I also pay attention to if the coffee makes me anxious. If your coffee makes me anxious or jittery. I am not having it again. That is not a good sign of quality. In LA, my coffee was Intelligentsia from Chicago. I always got the Iced Latte made with their signature Black Cat Espresso. Here in the Bay Area, I like Blue Bottle. My favorite beverage there is their Oji style Iced Coffee, which is made in this crazy looking vacuum and is made drip by drip and I only get about 3 oz per serving because it is that precious. It has flavor notes of whiskey oak barrels. Their corporate office is nearby and they found an old car sales floor and turn it into THE most beautiful coffee shop I have seen. I love hanging out in there and I am glad it is less than a mile away from me and that I could sit in there a few times a week. I never get tired of always changing floral arragnements (and not always flowers, sometimes branches or leaves).

Easter: loving cup, painting polk street red, dimsum, and boutiquehopping Novel

My sister got a room in a Russian Hill area. It's vicinity to food, bars, and cute boutiques made the hotel perfect. For one it was right next to Loving Cup. Have you had Loving Cup? They have rice pudding, usually around 6 flavors a day. I usually end up with a rum raisin. But on our last day there my sister had me try their slow churned frozen yogurt. It is soooo good. I thought it sounded gimcky but I was so wrong. It is so good. It was so smooth. You pick the base and any mixins you want. No ice crystals in it, meaning it was supa smooth. I know I said that already. I was hung over and then I had a few bites of her mango slow churned frozen yogurt and I felt better. The weekend was so fun, and sister and I agreed it would be so dangerous for us if we lived in that area. I would be having loving cup for breakfast and then when I get home for work and then maybe for desert after dinner.

We then strolled down Polk and stumbled upon The Candy Shop. Cutest candy shop ever. I loved how small the place was and all the bulk candy items were in large glass jars behind the register. I let everyone pick something, and it was fun seeing their personality's come through their choices. I ended up with rhubarb lemon tube things and sweedish hearts. Hearts because they were cute, and rhubarb candy because I love rhubarb. 

 Our  friends wanted oysters so we waited a long time for some Oysters at the Oyster Depot, which I though was super cool just because the place looked like it was 100 years old. Narrow restaurant, with just one really long counter and a bunch of men cutting cup seafood, and shucking oysters on the other side.

Dinner was at Nick's taco. It's an old bar with huge red booths lining the walls and the most chandeliers I've ever seen in a single space, but they serve tacos and burritos before it gets too late. We all got out tacos Nick's way which means it comes with guacamole and one fried shell wrapped in a soft tortilla. Good and a cheap eat, although watch out for all the add ons. They can add up. Food is cash only. But not the bar. I got the fish taco, and it was delicious. Perfectly battered and the fried shell wrapped in the soft taco added a good contrast.

And then bar hopping. Ooh. It's already Monday and just a few minutes ago I had a memory of another drink I just had. You know, like it's all coing back to me now. We went to a lot of bars. And it's the first time I'd ever had to google the name of a bar because I just noticed the charge on my CC. Turned out to be "The Last Standing Gay Bar on Polk." I don't remember being in a gay bar. That's the funny part. My favorite bars of the night were definitely Lush and Tonic. We stopped by a lot of dives too which are always fun.

Brunch was a Hong Kong Cafe for dimsum!  I like the small and intimate setting and the pink walls. No carts here, but you order from the ticket and it comes out fresh (in true Hong Kong fashion I hear). Food was good. I could eat "Shangai" or soup ir XLB (Xo long bao) dumplings all day long. Peking duck was served with the right accouterments of white buns, green onions, cucumber, and plum sauce.

Late checkout let the kids jump in the perfect temperature pool. Me? I was still "dead" you know from the night before. Even my coffee from St. Franks Coffee didn't help. So I didn't even want to get into my bathing suit. I needed to tan though because I just had my bloodwork done and my vitamin D is low meaning I need more SUN! hahahaha That would probably not have happened living in LA or Guam.So i just laid in the sun with my outfit still on, and only my legs and arms were exposed. One of the girls asked if I was trying to tan and I said yes, And she said, "That's not going to work." Then you should have seen her tanning technique. Pretty expert. She chose the small stair case and a towel and arched her back toward the sun. Yup I need to do that. My belly needs to tan! It was funny looking at my reflection during my Bar Method class and thinking, "oh my arms did get tanner but my face. . . no. "
This is us taking a break from the sun. So much going on here. Zamora's first steps, the bromancing, ky in his executive chair. 

And then we strolled over to Union St, where the street was closed off for a festival. There were a lot of cute shops! I finally found a new favorite piece of clothing. It has been awhile since that has happened. It's a knit black pencil skirt. I want to go back! Or I want to do the weekend all over again.

Follow me on twitter

I'm not so tech savvy... So.. Follow me on twitter. I would add my feed to the side if I knew how. My handle is hazelsanut 

Agua de Valencia

1 bottle Cava. 8 oz gin. 8 oz vodka. 3 tbsp sugar. in a pitcher. fill w orange juice (we used tangerine) and ice. add grape fruit slices.

You should make: brunch at home

I made so much "brunch' at home , I'm a little tired of it. or NOT! Smoked salmon. Herbed potatoes-boiled, cut, pan fried w dried Italian herbs and Jalepeno peppers. Poached egg- cracked open, dropped in shallow barely boiling water. Hollandaise from scratch : butter, egg, lemon, warm water, salt, whisk, metal bowl. And poached asparagus bc it's perfect w hollandaise.

You should try: elmwood cafe/ozzie's soda shop

old-school soda fountain. old wooden pharmacy shelves. marble tables. homemade  syrups. lavender soda. tomato jam w poached  egg breakfast sandwich. prettiest smoked salmon sandwiches. lattes in bowls. yellow striped awning. old sign.  cute street.

You should try: the living apothocary

pressed juice & tea based keffir waters= probiotic. tumeric or cocoa rose almond milks.

Sunday yumday in.

home on a sunday. semi-homemade. frozen dumplings w chicken broth, glass noodles, egg, and kale. korean miso-chilli paste n bonito flakes for the broth .  kimchi n scallion savory pancakes. soy, vinegar, sesame sauce. don't mind the briskness. i broke my keyboard.

Place you should try: Asha tea house

If you blink you will miss it. Right on the corner of Shattuck and University in Berkeley, tucked behind the Citibank is the best Boba you will ever have. Quality teas, always shaken, and seasonal fruit flavors such as kumquat await you. The space is also well designed. It is pretty much stripped down to is cement core, but details such as interesting lighting features and perfect soft lighting will make you want to stay. The people helping you are usually nice. There is also a table where you could store your points card alphabetically by name. It reminds of me of the way we used to have to fetch library books by looking through those drawers. You know you always leave your points card at home! I hate that! I get scared someone will steal my free drink but I am hoping for the best and hope someone adds stamps on mine instead! Parking sucks. No lie. But there is a garage the next st. Hope for the best! 

I just discovered America's Test Kitchen

I've been cooking for 10 years now and have never caught a single episode of ATK. It must have been SoCal. My cable never picked it up, which is strange because its on Public TV. So now..I am not only a Public radio junkie. I am officially a Public TV junkie. I love ATK. They test the recipes before they show you how to make something, combining science with food. I caught the episode where they make Chicago style pizzas. I never had Chicago style pizza's until I moved here to The Bay Area where 2 main local chains seem to hold the title for the best deep dish pizza -Zachery's and Little Star. Well now they will have to compete with my kitchen, because I tried making Chicago Style Deep Dish Pizzas and I conquered it! Its quite fun make it, and dare I say, easy to make. This may be worth putting together versus the commute, wait, and price of having it out. Another reason, why I like ATK, recipe and procedures are dummy proof and you can find ingredients at your local grocery store. No need to go to a specialty and the ratios are easy to follow. I may have the recipe memorized by now. I may have watched the video over 5x times. I won't write the recipe, because I already told you where I got it. But here are my pics! To make life easier, you will need a Standing Mixer and you will need probably a good 3 hrs saved for your 1st time making it for all the Prep and Baking time. There's a few resting periods, but time passes easily as you are preparing other parts of the pizza during the resting periods such as the sauce and the toppings. After practice you can probably knock one out after 1.5 hrs. Baking time is actually not that long at a good 30 mins, made in your 9" cake pan. The fascinating part is that at one point you take your dough and put a layer of butter on top. Then roll up the dough like a jellyroll! How fun! This is what makes the flully layers. The butter creates steam in between the layers. Each pie has about 1 stick in butter in it over all between it being in the dough recipe, the layer, and the sauce!  Our pizza toppings had three themes, The kid pleaser with pepporoni and mushroom. The sister pleaser: with Italian sausage in the sauce and anchovies sprinkled on top, mushroom and olives of course. And a meat-zza for the men. That had sausage, pepperoni, bacon, olives and mushroom. And lucky dudes, their pizza pie was made in a cast iron pan, which produced a crunchier crust.